Cleaning solvent



v Patented'feb. 19, 1924.

- hereinafter set forth-and as claimed.

' hereinafter more particularly describe it as or pseudo-solutions offinely l lo Drawing.

citizen of the United-States, residing at wherein such generallyIoccasionally. there are oline having a length of time,

partly because of stances present.

v I 1,484,161 uurrao' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

inc'ron s., ALL1EN, or WiLMINGTdN, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR T0 mmoooo'aroaa'rron, or WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

CLEANING, so'nvnnrl Application filed January 19, 1922. Serial No.530,453.

I solved matters andit takes out but little of the colloidal. matter.Distillation is sometimes employed by cleaners in recovering soline,-butwhere the gasoline contains ree fatty acids (from dissociated soaps),after a few distillations the distillate is apt to become what is knownas sour gasoline, which is not deemed desirable for cleaning hisinvention relates to cleaning solvents; and must be discarded. I Y andit comprises a method of purifying In the present invention I -modifythe solvents (gasoline, benzol, etc.) used in dry purification processby incorporating alittle cleaning garments, and for similar purposes,decolorizing carbon into the used gasoline solvent is exposed tocentrifprior to the centrifugal separation. While ugal action in thepresence of activated other kinds of activated carbon may be carbon,advantageously that of the Mumused, I find the type described andclaimed ford Patent No. 1,286,187 all'asmore fully in various patents toone Mumford (see No. 1,286,187) best adapted. In treating dirtygasoline, the activated carbon adds several other functions ofimportance to its ordinary decolorizing function. One of these addedfunctions is removal (to a greater or less extent) of dissolved greasesand resins, and another is collection of colloid suspensions andemulsions and their conversion into a form amenable to centrifugalseparation. By the simple expedient of adding a little activated carbonto gasoline and agitating the two together for a time, the carboncollects very fine matters in suspension or pseudo-suspension. On thencentrifugaling the two are thrown out together. In so doing, alight-colored clean gasoline is obtained suitable for direct use indryicleaning. If the gasoline treated is acid, that is, contains freefatty acids or resin acids, it is-advantageous to use a little calciumcarbonate, or lime with the carbon, v say, one per cent or so, ofcalciumcarbonate on the weight of the carbon. The calcium salts of thesefatty and resin acids are insoluble and are collected by the carbon. Thegasoline thus neutralized can be dis tilled withoutproduction of fsourgasoline.

In a specific embodimentyof the [present invention, used asolinefisallowed to stand 100 in a storage tan or is-filtered in anysuitable wayto free it of coarse dirt..' To this gasoline is then added a smallproportion of one of the commercial-activated carbons. In the case ofthe Mum-ford ma terial, about 35 parts by weight to' 100gallons-of used.gasoline are advantageous. th gasoline is particularlydirty, somewhat beemployed, while 'ifit is fairly e b somewhat re- To all whom it mayconcern Be 1t known that I, VICTOR S. ALLIEN, a

Wilmington, in the county of New Castle and State ofDelaware, haveinvented certain new and ,useful Improvements 1n Cleaning Solvents, ofwhich the following is a specification. I

In dry cleaning garments, the solvents used by the cleaners are gasolineand benzol (coal tar benzene); although used carbontetrathechlorethylene; and particularly is a desideratum. le to any of thesestate, but I shall chlorid, chloroform,

ethylene chlorid, etc., where non-inflammabilit My invention is applicasolvents in an impure applied to the treatment of gasoline which may beregarded as typical of the cleaners solvents. "Dry cleaners gasoline isa special grade of petroleum distillate or of gaslow end boiling point.rimary object in using gas oline in dry (ileaning is to dissolve andre-. move grease, gasoline being an excellent solventfor fatty andgreasy substances, yet, as a matter of fact, it removes and carries withit dirt of all kinds. After a certain gasoline used in cleaning becomestoo much contaminated or dirty and must be purified. Thispurificationofi'ers considerable difliculty, this being the wide varietyof sub- In addition to the coarse and easily removed dirt and greases,resins, etc., in so ution, there are colloid suspensions divided liquidand solid matters. In cleaning establishments the dirty, used gasolineis ordinaril put in storage 'tanksto settle'out as much dirt as possibleand is then frequent y run through a centrifugal to separate a furtherquantity. This, however, is not very efi'ect-' ual and does not give aclean product. A more -ma, I centrifugal does not, of course, removedisclean, the proportion may While the Q I insane? duced. With otheractivated carbons or- What I claim is dinarily considerably more isrequired. a The Y 1. In the purification of used and impure carbon andthe gasoline are well a 'tated solvents carrying colloidal matter of thefor a period of 10 to 30 minutes and to settle. Much of the carbondeposits, carvwhich comprises agitating such a solvent rying impuritiesremoved from the gasoline with activated carbon to collect such 001-with it. Without waiting for a complete loid matter and separating thecarbon and separation in this manner, the gasoline is collected matterby centrifugal action.

next treated in an eflicient separating ma- '2. In the purification ofused and impure chine of the centrifugal separator type, solventscarrying colloidal matter of the wing carbon, together with dissolvedand WlllCll comprises agitating such a solvent suspended impurities ofthe gasolene. Inwith activated carbon in the presence of lowed type ofdry cleaners gasoline, the process 30 thereby removing the residue ofthe decolortype of dry' cleaners gasoline, the process I stead of usinga centrifugal, a filter press calcium carbonate to collect such colloidmay be employed; but the centrifugal I rematter and neutralize acidityand separating gard as. better. The eflluent gasoline is the carbon andcollected matter by centrifuready for re-use but, if desired, it may begal action.

distilled. As the carbon takes out the'mois- 3. The process ofrecovering ,dry cleaners ture (of soap emulsions and :the like), thegasoline, which comprises settling said gasgasoline coming fro thecentrifugal is suboline to remove coarse impurities, adding stantiallydry. Where the used oline is activated carbon and calcium carbonate,ag1-' acid in its nature, it is, as statei useful tating and separatingby centrifugal action; expedient to add a little calcium carbonate In.testimony whereof, I have hereunto at the time of adding the carbon. Orthe 'aflixed my signature. carbon may be treated with a little limewater prior to use. v VICTOR S. ALLIEN.

